VMs: UK Shorthand Collections...

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,

While in Leeds University Library, I found "A Dictionary of Rare Book and 
Special Collections", edited by B.C.Bloomfield, 2nd edition (1997). 
Shorthand collections listed there are:-

Canterbury Library: holds the Philip Found Shorthand Collection - approx 
1000 books, with an emphasis on Early English and French shorthand.

London, Guildhall Library: the Practical Arts and Commerce section holds a 
Shorthand Historical Collection, with 106 items, mostly pre-1851.

University of London Library:  the Carlton Shorthand Collection. This 
really is "the daddy" - c12000 printed items, c200 mss. See R.C.Alston "A 
Bibliography of the English language", corrected repreint of v.1-10, 
Ilkley, 1974, volume 8.

Manchester Central Library, Social Sciences Library, Great Hall. It's 
Shorthand Collection has 1230 printed books and c105 mss (according to 
O'Donnell in 1906), as well as 200+ books on cryptography, spelling reform, 
etc. Described in John O''Donnell "British Shorthand Libraries", 1906, 
pp123-125.

National Library of Wales: the Spillman Collection. c1000 books, though 
mainly 19th & early 20th centuries.

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....